Theory on fire cause

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34045, 8 January 1976, Page 2

Theory on fire cause

fFrrtm Our Orn Reporter) BLENHEIM, January’ 7. Static electricity is thought to have been the cause of the fire that destroyed the production area of the Marlborough Fibreglass Company’s factors’ in Blenheim on Tuesday . A fire brigade spokesman said the possible cause was a highly volatile solvent which factors' workers used to wash the glass-fibre mixture off ’heir hands. He said the heat on Tues dav afternoon was such that a worker could have used the solvent to wash his hands caus’ng sparks of static electricity to flv from his fingernails. igniting other combustible materials in the factory’s mixing-room, where the blaze began. The company’s executive dimctor. Mr G H Robinson, 'aid a meeting held vesterdav morn’ne had not reached anv conclusion as to what fm*nediataction would be T**e company was concen-' t-.»»ne on mooning up af’er t*>e «re and filing in«urance Mr Rnhmson was still re- 1 !’»e»anr to put a figure on the I damage caused bv the fire, ancj »-o w,uM on’” estimate it j at “more than $150,000." •